Our Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) students can earn an associate of science degree in approximately 17 months.

<strong>ARDMS CERTIFYING EXAMINATION STATEMENT
</strong>The law does not require that a diagnostic medical sonographer be licensed or ARDMS certified in order to work as a sonographer, but some employers do require that potential employees be ARDMS certified, or eligible to sit for the ARDMS certifying examination within one year after hire.

Graduates of the SJVC DMS program who hold a B.S. or B.A. degree or higher will be eligible to sit for the ARDMS certifying examination immediately upon completion of the program.

Graduates who have prior education in a two year allied health care field (single subject) that is patient-care related will be eligible to sit for the ARDMS certifying examination immediately upon
completion of the program. A two-year allied health education program is defined as (1) 24 consecutive calendar months OR (2) 60 semester credits OR (3) 84 quarter credits. Examples of such allied health occupations include, but are not limited to radiologic technologist (RT), registered
nurse (RN), respiratory therapist or occupational therapist.

Graduates who hold an active certification with Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI), or American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), or Australian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM), will be eligible to sit for the ARDMS certifying examination immediately upon completion of the program.

Graduates who do not have these prior educational prerequisites must work for one year (1680 hours) as a diagnostic medical sonographer before they are eligible to sit for the ARDMS examination.

To obtain more information about the ARDMS certification examination, contact The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, 51 Monroe Street, Plaza East One, Rockville,
MD 20850. Visit their website at <a title="Click to go to The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers website." href="http://www.ardms.org" target="_blank">www.ardms.org</a>.

<strong>ARDMS SPECIALTY CERTIFYING EXAMINATION STATEMENT</strong>
The SJVC DMS Program is designed as a general concentration in the performance of diagnostic medical ultrasound. When you graduate from this program, the education received will prepare you to sit for the Abdominal and Small Parts and/or the OB/GYN RDMS specialty examinations.

The program is not designed as a complete preparation to sit for the Registered Vascular Technologist certifying examination upon graduation. The Vascular course is intended as an
introduction to vascular ultrasound imaging. At least six months of additional training is required prior to sitting for the RVT credential.

The time frame, in regard to your eligibility to sit for the ARDMS examination, is based upon your prior educational background.